Severe thunderstorms moving across the East Coast caused widespread air travel disruption on Tuesday, affecting thousands of passengers at several of the busiest airports in the United States.
More than 7,000 flights were disrupted nationwide, including over 2,000 cancellations and more than 5,000 delays involving flights within, arriving in or departing from the US, according to FlightAware.
Tornado Watches and Flood Warnings Issued
The powerful storm system triggered flood warnings and tornado watches across several areas of the Northeast.
Weather and emergency authorities reported that at least two tornadoes were observed. One was spotted in northeastern Pennsylvania, while another was reported in northern New Jersey.
As the storms continued moving through the region, officials warned that flight cancellation and delay figures could increase further.
Major East Coast Airports Face Serious Delays
Airports serving New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., experienced some of the most significant operational problems.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops at several airports because of dangerous thunderstorm activity, including:
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland
- Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts
- Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey
- Teterboro Airport in New Jersey
- LaGuardia Airport in New York
- Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York
- Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia
- Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada was also placed under a ground stop.
JFK Passengers Experience Four-Hour Delays
John F. Kennedy International Airport was not under a ground stop as of Tuesday afternoon. However, flights at the airport were experiencing average ground delays of approximately four hours because of the severe weather.
Across the wider New York City metropolitan area, almost 600 departing flights were canceled, while more than 500 additional departures were delayed.
Airlines Introduce Flexible Rebooking Policies
Several major US airlines released travel advisories and introduced flexible rebooking arrangements for passengers affected by the storms.
JetBlue said repeated periods of severe weather across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic had caused major disruptions to customer travel plans. The airline stated that its teams were working continuously to assist passengers.
Affected JetBlue customers may rebook their travel through Sunday or request a refund to their original payment method.
United Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences for eligible travelers who reschedule their trips. The replacement flight must:
- Be operated by United Airlines
- Depart between July 20 and July 23, 2026
- Use the same travel cabin
- Operate between the same cities as the original booking
American Airlines said affected passengers would receive notifications through email or the airline’s mobile application. Eligible customers must rebook by Wednesday and complete their new journey by Friday.
Airline Stock Market Snapshot
| Ticker | Airline | Last Price | Change | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAL | United Airlines Holdings Inc. | $117.70 | +$0.18 | +0.15% |
| JBLU | JetBlue Airways Corp. | $5.35 | -$0.10 | -1.83% |
| AAL | American Airlines Group Inc. | $15.28 | +$0.14 | +0.92% |
Severe thunderstorms created extensive flight disruptions across the East Coast, particularly at airports serving New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. Passengers should continue checking airline notifications and airport updates, as additional cancellations and delays may occur while the storm system remains active.